manual transmission MERCEDES-BENZ CLA 2019 User Guide

Drive program I (Individual)
In drive programIthe following properties of thedrive program can be selected:
Rthe drive (engine and transmission manage-ment)
Rthe suspension (vehicles with damping sys-tem or AMG adaptive sport suspension sys-tem)
Rthe steering
Rthe availability of the ECO start/stop function
Rthe climate control
Information about configuring drive programIwith the multimedia system can be found in theDigital Operator's Manual.
iTo permanently select the gears in driveprogramIusing the steering wheel paddleshifters, select theM(manual) setting for thedrive.
Drive program E (Economy)
Drive programEis characterized by the follow-ing:
Rcomfort-oriented engine settings.
Roptimal fuel consumption resulting from theautomatic transmission shifting up sooner.
Rthe vehicle pulls away more gently in forwardand reverse gears, unless the acceleratorpedal is depressed fully.
Rthe vehicle has improved driving stability, forexample on slippery road surfaces.
Rthe automatic transmission shifting upsooner. This results in the vehicle being drivenat lower engine speeds and the wheels beingless likely to spin.
Rgliding mode is activated automatically whenengine-internal conditions are fulfilled andthe accelerator is not depressed. At the sametime the transmission’s clutch opens and thevehicle rolls freely using its kinetic energy. Asa result great distances can be completedwithout the engine brake and fuel consump-tion reduced.
iThe availability of gliding mode depends onvarious factors, including the following:
Rthe engine and transmission temperature
Rthe downhill gradient
Rthe vehicle speed
Rperforming regular adaptation functions
When you depress the brake pedal, glidingmode is deactivated, depending on pedalpressure.
When you activate cruise control or ActiveDistance Assist DISTRONIC, gliding mode isnot available.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles
Drive program I (Individual)
In drive programIthe following properties of thedrive program can be selected:
Rthe drive (engine management)
Rthe transmission management
Rthe suspension (vehicles with AMG adaptivesport suspension system)
RESP®
Information about configuring drive programIwith the multimedia system can be found in theDigital Operator's Manual.
Drive program C (Comfort)
Drive programCis characterized by the follow-ing:
Rthe vehicle delivers comfortable, economicalhandling characteristics.
Rthe vehicle pulls away more gently in forwardand reverse gears, unless the acceleratorpedal is depressed fully.
Rthe vehicle has improved driving stability, forexample on slippery road surfaces.
Roptimal fuel consumption resulting from theautomatic transmission shifting up sooner.The vehicle is driven in the low engine speedrange and the wheels are less likely to spin.
Rgliding mode is available.
Rthe ECO start/stop function is available.
Drive program S (Sport)
Drive programSis characterized by the follow-ing:
Rthe vehicle exhibits sporty driving character-istics.
Rthe automatic transmission shifts up later.The fuel consumption possibly being higheras a result of the later automatic transmissionshift points.
Rthe suspension exhibits stiff springing anddamping settings (vehicles with AIR adaptivesport suspension system).
136Automatic transmission
Driving and pa rking

Rgliding mode is not available.
Rthe ECO start/stop function is not available.
Drive program S+ (Sport Plus)
Drive programS+is characterized by the fol-lowing:
Rthe vehicle exhibits particularly sporty drivingcharacteristics.
Rthe automatic transmission shifts up later.
Rthe fuel consumption possibly being higher asa result of the later automatic transmissionshift points.
Rthe suspension exhibits particularly stiffspringing and damping settings (vehicles withAMG adaptive sport suspension system).
Rgliding mode is not available.
Rthe ECO start/stop function is not available.
Drive program RACE (vehicles with AMG
adaptive sport suspension system)
TheRACEdrive program is characterized by thefollowing:
Rthe vehicle exhibits driving characteristicssuitable for the racetrack.
Rall vehicle systems are set for maximumsportiness.
Rthe automatic transmission shifts up later.
Rthe fuel consumption possibly being higher asa result of the later automatic transmissionshift points.
Rthe suspension exhibits particularly stiffspringing and damping settings.
Rgliding mode is not available.
Rthe ECO start/stop function is not available.
Manual gear shifting
General notes
You can change gear yourself using the steeringwheel paddle shifters. The transmission must bein position[to do this.
Depending on which steering wheel paddleshifter is pulled, the automatic transmissionimmediately shifts into the next gear down orup, if permitted.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles:to use manual shift-ing, you have two options:
Rtemporary setting
Rpermanent setting
If you activate manual gearshifting, the multi-function display will show the current gearinstead of transmission position[.
If manual gearshifting is deactivated, the gearswill be selected automatically.
Temporary setting
XTo activate:shift the DIRECT SELECT lever toposition[.
XPull steering wheel paddle shifterCorD.
Temporary setting will be active for a certainamount of time. Under certain conditions theminimum amount of time is extended, e.g. in thecase of lateral acceleration, during an overrunphase or when driving on steep terrain.
XTo deactivate:pull steering wheel paddleshifterDand hold it in place.
or
XUse the DIRECT SELECT lever to switch thetransmission position.
or
XAll vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehicles):use the DYNAMIC SELECT button to changethe drive program.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: use the DYNAMICSELECT controller to change the drive pro-gram.
Automatic transmission137
Driving and parking
Z

Permanent setting (Mercedes-AMG
vehicles)
XTo activate:shift the selector lever to[.
XPress buttonC.
XTo deactivate:press buttonC.
or
XIf position D (automatic transmission) isselected for the transmission in drive pro-gramI: shift to drive programIwith theDYNAMIC SELECT controller.
Shifting gears
!Mercedes-AMG vehicles:the automatictransmission does not shift up automaticallyeven when the engine limiting speed for thecurrent gear is reached. When the engine lim-iting speed is reached, the fuel supply is cut toprevent the engine from overrevving. Alwaysmake sure that the engine speed does notreach the red area of the tachometer. There isotherwise a risk of engine damage.
XTo shift up:pull steering wheel paddleshifterD.The automatic transmission shifts up to thenext gear.
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-cles):if the maximum engine speed on thecurrently engaged gear is reached and youcontinue to accelerate, the automatic trans-mission automatically shifts up in order toprevent engine damage.
XTo shift down:pull steering wheel paddleshifterC.The automatic transmission shifts down tothe next gear.
Automatic down shifting occurs when coast-ing.
If the engine exceeds the maximum enginespeed when shifting down, the automatictransmission protects against engine damageby not shifting down.
Shift recommendation
The gearshift recommendations assist you inadopting an economical driving style. The rec-ommended gear is shown in the multifunctiondisplay.
XShift to recommended gearDaccording togearshift recommendationCwhen shown inthe multifunction display.
Upshifting (Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
!In manual mode, the automatic transmis-sion does not shift up automatically evenwhen the engine limiting speed for the currentgear is reached. When the engine limitingspeed is reached, the fuel supply is cut toprevent the engine from overrevving. Alwaysmake sure that the engine speed does notreach the red area of the tachometer. There isotherwise a risk of engine damage.
138Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Before the engine speed reaches the red area,an upshift indicator will be shown in the multi-function display.
XShift to recommended gearCwhen mes-sageDis shown in the multifunction display.
Kickdown
XFor maximum acceleration, depress theaccelerator pedal beyond the pressure point.The automatic transmission shifts to a lowergear depending on the engine speed.
XShift back up once the desired speed isreached.
During kickdown, you cannot shift gears usingthe steering wheel paddle shifters.
If you apply full throttle, the automatic trans-mission shifts up to the next gear when themaximum engine speed is reached. This pre-vents the engine from overrevving.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles:it is only possible touse kickdown in temporary manual drive pro-gramM. When manual drive programMis per-manently activated, kickdown is not possible.
Problems with the transmission
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andPPSolutions
The transmission hasproblems shifting gear.The transmission is losing oil.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshopimmediately.
The acceleration abilityis deteriorating.
The transmission no lon-ger shifts into all of thegears.
Reverse gear can no lon-ger be engaged.
The transmission is in emergency mode.
XStop the vehicle.
XShift the transmission to position].
XSwitch off the engine.
XWait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
XShift the transmission to position[.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshopimmediately.
Refueling
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. Risk of fire and
explosion by improper handling of fuel.
You must avoid fire, open flames, smoking
and creating sparks. Switch off the ignition
before refueling and, if present, switch off the
auxiliary heating.
GWARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
Refueling139
Driving and parking
Z

Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
Rrelease the parking brake
Rshift the automatic transmission out of park
position]
Rstart the engine
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Never leave children or animals unattended in
the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. This
also applies for the Digital Vehicle Key if the
"Digital Vehicle Key" function is activated via
Mercedes me connect.
The function of the electric parking brake isdependent on the on-board voltage. If the on-board voltage is low or there is a malfunction inthe system, it may not be possible to apply thereleased parking brake.
XIf this is the case, only park the vehicle onlevel ground and secure it to prevent it rollingaway.
XShift the automatic transmission to position].
It may not be possible to release an appliedparking brake if the on-board voltage is low orthere is a malfunction in the system. Contact aqualified specialist workshop.
The electric parking brake performs a functiontest at regular intervals while the engine isswitched off. The sounds that can be heard whilethis is occurring are normal.
Applying or releasing manually
XTo engage:push handleC.When the electric parking brake is applied,the redI(USA only) or$(Canadaonly) indicator lamp lights up in the instru-ment cluster.
The electric parking brake can also be appliedwhen the SmartKey is removed.
XTo release:pull handleC.The redI(USA only) or$(Canadaonly) indicator lamp in the instrument clustergoes out.
The electric parking brake can only bereleased:
Rif the SmartKey is in positionGorHinthe ignition lock (Ypage 123) or
Rif the ignition was switched on using theStart/Stop button
Applying automatically
The electric parking brake is automaticallyapplied when the transmission is in position]and:
Rthe engine is switched off or
Rthe driver is not wearing a seat belt and thedriver's door is opened
To prevent the electric parking brake from beingautomatically applied, pull handleC.
The electric parking brake is also applied auto-matically if:
RActive Distance Assist DISTRONIC brings thevehicle to a standstill or
Rthe HOLD function is keeping the vehicle sta-tionary
RActive Parking Assist is keeping the vehiclestationary
In addition, at least one of the following condi-tions must be fulfilled:
Rthe engine is switched off
Rthe driver is not wearing a seat belt and thedriver's door is opened
Rthere is a system malfunction
Rthe power supply is insufficient
Rthe vehicle is stationary for a lengthy period
The redI(USA only) or$(Canada only)indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goesout.
The electric parking brake is not automaticallyapplied if the engine is switched off by the ECOstart/stop function.
144Parking
Driving an d parking

helps you to avoid overheating the brakes andwearing them out excessively.
When you take advantage of engine braking, itis possible that a drive wheel will not rotate forsome time, e.g. on a slippery road surface.This could cause damage to the drive train.This type of damage is not covered by theMercedes-Benz warranty.
Briefly depressing the accelerator pedal ondownhill gradients while the manual drive pro-gramMis temporarily activated: the automatictransmission may switch to the last active auto-matic drive programEorS. The automatic trans-mission may shift to a higher gear. This canreduce the engine's braking effect.
Heavy and light loads
GWARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This
increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
!Depressing the brake pedal constantlyresults in excessive and premature wear tothe brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavyload, do not stop the vehicle immediately. Driveon for a short while. This allows the airflow tocool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads
If you have driven for a long time in heavy rainwithout braking, there may be a delayed reac-tion from the brakes when braking for the firsttime. This may also occur after the vehicle hasbeen washed or driven through deep water.
You have to depress the brake pedal morefirmly. Maintain a greater distance from thevehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehiclewashed, brake firmly while paying attention tothe traffic conditions. This will warm up thebrake discs, thereby drying them more quicklyand protecting them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt resi-due may form on the brake discs and brakepads. This can result in a significantly longerbraking distance.
RIn order to prevent any salt build-up, apply thebrakes occasionally while paying attention tothe traffic conditions.
RCarefully depress the brake pedal and thebeginning and end of a journey.
RMaintain a greater distance to the vehicleahead.
Servicing the brakes
!The brake fluid level may be too low, if:
Rif the red brake warning lamp lights up inthe instrument cluster and
Ryou hear a warning tone while the engine isrunning
Observe additional warning messages in themultifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due tobrake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immediately.Consult a qualified specialist workshop toarrange this.
!A function or performance test should onlybe carried out on a 2-axle dynamometer. Ifyou wish to operate the vehicle on such adynamometer, please consult a qualified spe-cialist workshop in advance. You could oth-erwise damage the drive train or the brakesystem.
!As the ESP®system operates automatically,the engine and the ignition must be switchedoff (the SmartKey must be in position

For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or inconditions in which hydroplaning may occur,you must drive in the following manner:
Rlower your speed
Ravoid ruts
Ravoid sudden steering movements
Rbrake carefully
Driving on flooded roads
!Do not drive through flooded areas. Checkthe depth of any water before driving throughit. Drive slowly through standing water. Oth-erwise, water could enter the vehicle interioror engine compartment. It can then damagethe engine's or automatic transmission'selectronic components. It can also be suckedin by the engine's air intake connection andcause engine damage.
Winter driving
GWARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
GDANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open a
window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind.
Have your vehicle winter-proofed at a qualifiedspecialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road sur-faces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering andbraking maneuvers. Do not use cruise control orActive Distance Assist DISTRONIC.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot bestopped when moving at low speed:
XShift the transmission to position\\.
XTry to bring the vehicle under control usingcorrective steering.
The outside temperature indicator is notdesigned to serve as an ice-warning device andis therefore unsuitable for that purpose.Changes in the outside temperature are dis-played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezingpoint do not guarantee that the road surface isfree of ice. The road may still be icy, especially inwooded areas or on bridges.
You should pay special attention to road condi-tions when temperatures are around freezingpoint.
For more information on driving with snowchains, see (Ypage 293).
For more information on driving with summertires, see (Ypage 292).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" sec-tion (Ypage 292).
Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road speedfor you. It brakes automatically in order to avoidexceeding the set speed. On long and steepdownhill gradients, especially if the vehicle isladen, you must select a low gear in good time.You need to shift manually using the steeringwheel paddle shifters beforehand. By doing so,you will make use of the braking effect of theengine. This relieves the load on the brake sys-tem and prevents the brakes from overheatingand wearing too quickly.
When the engine is running, you can use thecruise control lever to limit the speed to anyspeed between 20 mph (30 km/h) and the tech-nically permitted maximum speed of the vehicle.
Use cruise control if road and traffic conditionsmake it appropriate to maintain a steady speedfor a prolonged period.
150Driving systems
Driving and parking

road surface is required and the vehicle and tiresmust be in good working order.
Do not activate start-off assist on public roads.
Observe the safety notes on driving safety sys-tems (Ypage 61).
Be sure to read the safety notes and information
on ESP®(Ypage 64).
Activating start-off assist
XDeactivate ESP®(Ypage 187).
XTurn the steering wheel to the straight-aheadposition.
XFirmly depress the brake pedal with your leftfoot and keep it depressed.
XShift the transmission to position[.
XUse the DYNAMIC SELECT button to selecttheSdrive program (Ypage 129).
XQuickly depress the accelerator pedal fully.
XTake your foot off the brake, but keep theaccelerator pedal depressed.The vehicle pulls away at maximum acceler-ation.
iActivate ESP®as soon as the acceleration
process has ended. ESP®will otherwise notbe able to stabilize the vehicle if the vehiclestarts to skid or a wheel starts to spin.
Canceling start-off assist
XRemove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
XReactivate ESP®.
RACE START (Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles)
Important safety notes
iRACE START must not be used on normalroads. RACE START must only be activatedand used on dedicated road circuits, outsideof public road use.
iRACE START is only available inMercedes‑AMG vehicles.
GWARNING
If you use RACE START, individual tires may
start to spin and the vehicle could skid.
Depending on the selected ESP®mode, there
is an increased risk of skidding and having an
accident. Make sure that no persons, animals
or obstacles are within range of the vehicle.
RACE START enables optimal acceleration froma standing start. For this, a suitably high-griproad surface is required and the vehicle and tiresmust be in good working order.
iObserve the safety notes on driving safetysystems (Ypage 61).
Be sure to read the safety notes and informa-
tion on ESP®(Ypage 64).
Conditions for activation
You can activate RACE START if:
Rthe doors, hood and the trunk lid are closed.
Rthe engine is running and the transmission,all-wheel drive clutch and the engine are atoperating temperature.
Rthe steering wheel is in the straight-aheadposition.
Rthe vehicle is stationary and the brake pedal isdepressed (left foot).
Rthe transmission is in position[.
Rdrive programS,S+orRACEis selected(Ypage 130)
Activating RACE START
XDepress the brake pedal with your left footand keep it depressed.
XPull and hold both steering wheel paddle shift-ers.
XTheRACE START Confirm: Paddle UPRACE START Confirm: Paddle UPCancel: Paddle DOWNCancel: Paddle DOWNmessage appears inthe multifunction display.
XRelease both steering wheel paddle shifters.
iIf the activation conditions are no longer ful-filled, RACE START is canceled. TheRACERACESTART Not Possible See Operator'sSTART Not Possible See Operator'sManualManualmessage appears in the multifunctiondisplay.
XTo cancel:pull the left steering wheel paddleshifter (Ypage 137).
or
XTo confirm:pull the right steering wheel pad-dle shifter (Ypage 137).TheRACERACESTARTSTARTAvailableAvailableDepressDepressgasgaspedalpedalmessage appears in the multifunctiondisplay.
160Driving systems
Driving and parking

Rif the camera lens is dirty or obstructed.Observe the notes on cleaning(Ypage 269)
Rif the rear of your vehicle is damaged. In thiscase, have the camera position and settingchecked at a qualified specialist workshop.
The field of vision and other functions of the rearview camera may be restricted due to additionalaccessories on the rear of the vehicle (e.g.license plate holder, rear bicycle rack).
iThe contrast of the display may be affectedby the sudden presence of sunlight or otherlight sources, e.g. when exiting a garage. Payparticular attention in this situation.
iIf usability is severely restricted, e.g. due topixel errors, have the display repaired orreplaced.
Activating/deactivating the rear view
camera
XTo activate:make sure that the SmartKey isin positionHin the ignition lock.
XMake sure that theActivation by R gearActivation by R gearfunction is selected in the multimedia system;see the Digital Operator's Manual.
XEngage reverse gear.The area behind the vehicle is shown withguide lines in the multimedia system display.
The image from the rear view camera is avail-able throughout the maneuvering process.
To deactivate:the rear view camera deacti-vates if you shift the transmission to]or afterdriving forwards a short distance.
The inner segments of the warning indicator aredisplayed in red if there is a complete systemfailure. The indicator lamp in the PARKTRONICbutton lights up.
If the system fails at the rear of the vehicle:
Rthe rear segments are shown in red whenbacking up.
Rthe rear segments are hidden when drivingforwards.
Messages in the multimedia system dis-
play
The rear view camera may show a distorted viewof obstacles, show them incorrectly or not at all.The rear view camera does not show objects inthe following positions:
Rvery close to the rear bumper
Runder the rear bumper
Rin close range above the handle on the trunklid
!Objects not at ground level may appear tobe further away than they actually are, e.g.:
Rthe bumper of a parked vehicle
Rthe drawbar of a trailer
Rthe ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
Rthe rear section of an HGV
Ra slanted post
Use the guidelines only for orientation.Approach objects no further than the bottom-most guideline.
CYellow guide line at a distance of approx-imately 13 ft (4.0 m) from the rear of thevehicle
DWhite guide line without steering input –vehicle width including the exterior mirrors(static)

Display messagesPossible causes/consequences andPPSolutions
The yellow$warning lamp and the redI(USA only) or$(Canada only) indicator lamp light up.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning.
To release:
XSwitch off the ignition and turn it back on.
XRelease the electric parking brake manually.
or
XRelease the electric parking brake automatically (Ypage 143).
If the electric parking brake still cannot be released:
XDo not drive on.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
The redI(USA only) or$(Canada only) indicator lamp flashesand the yellow$warning lamp lights up.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning.
To release:
XSwitch off the ignition and turn it back on.
XRelease the electric parking brake manually.
To apply:
XSwitch off the ignition and turn it back on.
XApply the electric parking brake manually.
If the redI(USA only) or$(Canada only) indicator lamp con-tinues to flash:
XDo not drive on.
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away (Ypage 312).
XShift the transmission to position].
XTurn the front wheels towards the curb.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
Displaymessages197
On-b oard computer and displays
Z